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Journey Info

Highlights

• Sightseeing the capital, Vientiane
  
  

• Caving + kayaking in Vang Vieng
  
  

• 3 day jungle trek + village home stay off the beaten track
  
  

• Stay in a unique Elephant Lodge
  
  

• Ride an elephant through conservation area

• UNESCO World Heritage town, Luang Prabang

• FLEXIBILITY - You choose your own travel dates, private tour with local guide
  

Overview

For the ultimate Laos adventure holiday, travel overland from the capital, Vientiane to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. This trip is jam-packed with active travel, culture and awesome scenery that is off the tourist trail. You trek mountainous regions, kayak amid stunningly beautiful lime stone karsts, explore spectacular caves and overnight in remote hill tribe villages for an authentic cultural experience. To complete your journey, you ride an elephant into the jungle to Tad Sae Waterfalls. Over 11 days you discover Laos is an adventure destination not to be missed!

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1	Arrive Vientiane Arrive Vientiane and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon sightseeing the old French colonial buildings with your guide. In the evening enjoy the nightlife of Vientiane at a local restaurant. Meals: Dinner Accommodation: Vientiane, central hotel
Day 2	Vientiane Start your day with a Lao coffee! Then make your way to Wat Si Saket, Vientiane’s oldest surviving temple and Haw Pha Kaew, a renovated royal temple that now functions as the national museum of religious art. You visit the most important national monument in Laos, Pha That Luang - a symbol of both Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. As you wander the monasteries, there is plenty of opportunity to meet the novice monks who are happy to describe their lives of devotion. Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Vientiane, central hotel
Day 3	Vientiane to Vang Vieng After breakfast in your hotel, drive around 160km north to the small town of Vang Vieng nestled on the banks of the Song River (Nam Song) amid majestic lime stone mountains. This area is a photographer’s delight, the main attraction, the dramatic landscape and spectacular caves. In the afternoon, savor the local area and explore a nearby cave. Tonight you stay in a guesthouse on the picturesque Song River. Activity: Kayaking Meals: Breakfast Accommodation: Vang Vieng guesthouse
Day 4	Vang Vieng Vang Vieng has become the number one adventure destination in Laos. Today’s activities confirm this theory. Start your active adventure with a hike to hidden caves to explore these natural caverns. Then, trek through jungle and villages to marvel at awesome rock formations. In the afternoon, be prepared to get wet as you paddle down the Song River back to Vang Vieng. Activity: Hiking, caving, kayaking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Vang Vieng guesthouse
Day 5	Vang Vieng to remote mountain country We travel deeper into the mountains and hinterland by car passing remote villages and stunning landscape. Our mission is to explore a recently discovered cave (season dependent). Don't forget to bring your head torch! Tonight we overnight in a very basic guesthouse where it can get cold at night - so make sure you have packed some warm clothes. Activity: Caving Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Basic guesthouse
Day 6	Trek to Ming River Today you need to pack only essential clothing and items needed for a 3 day adventure, while the rest of your luggage is transported ahead. We drive along the river for an 1.5 hours until we reach a perfect spot to launch our kayaks in the Nam Ming River. Equipped with life jackets and helmets, you take on fast flowing rapids and calm waters as you pass stunningly beautiful scenery complete with forests, mountain ranges and villages. Tonight, you camp under the stars on the banks of the Ming River. Now, that’s a million star hotel experience. (In the wet season, we stay with a family in a village). Activity: Kayaking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Camping
Day 7	Trek to village home stay We continue our adventure on foot through the hinterland of Laos. You are now off the beaten track as you are guided through dense jungle, along mountain ridges via remote villages. Through this authentic Laos experience you can observe how the local people live under such isolated conditions. Tonight, you stay in one of these villages with simple bedding and mosquito nets. Activity: Hiking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay
Day 8	Trek to village home stay Today you trek further into the remote highlands where the village population is sparse compared to the thriving lowlands. The landscape is a mixture of rugged wilderness and agricultural plots farmed by many generations of mountain people. Here, you meet the Hmong and Khmu who make their living by crop rotation, raising farm animals under these difficult and rugged mountain conditions. Tonight you stay in a local village. Activity: Hiking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Home stay
Day 9	Trek to Elephant Village This is your last day of trekking. You descend the high country and head to the lowland plains to arrive, around midday, at the beautiful Elephant Village set on the banks of the Nam Ou. After your wilderness experience, the Resort is an idyllic oasis where you can rediscover the amenities and creature comforts you are accustomed. Your main luggage will be here to greet you so you can take a well-deserved shower or why not jump in the river for a swim? There’s also a wonderful restaurant offering both Lao and international cuisine. Activity: Hiking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Elephant Lodge
Day 10	Ride the elephants, waterfall & Luang Prabang For an unforgettable experience, rise early and watch the elephants take a morning bath in the Nam Ou River. After breakfast, your animal kingdom experience continues as you ride an elephant to the nearby Tad Sae Waterfalls (falls flow September to January). After lunch at the resort, you transfer by private car to your guesthouse in Luang Prabang. Tonight, you are free to visit the hill tribe night markets and dine at one of the many restaurants offering a delicious range of authentic Lao and international cuisine. Activity: Elephant ride Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Luang Prabang Guesthouse
Day 11	Depart Luang Prabang Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your guesthouse before you are transferred to the airport. Please advise if you have made other arrangements or if you would like to extend your stay in Luang Prabang. Meals: Breakfast

Please note: This trip can also travel in reverse departing from Luang Prabang and finishing in Vientiane. A minimum of two people is required to operate this trip. This itinerary can be easily amended to suit your needs. Let us know if you would like to make any changes and we will be more than happy to suggest an alternative itinerary for you. 

Includes:

• Hotel + guesthouse accommodation based on twin share. If a single room is required a single supplement will apply.
• Jungle camp + village home stays
• Airport/hotel transfers in Vientiane and Luang Prabang
• All transportation as per itinerary
• English speaking guide
• Support crew for activities
• Entrance fees + village permission
• All activities and sightseeing as per itinerary
• Kayaks
• Luggage transfer during your trek
  
• All meals as per the itinerary
• Water for the trek

Excludes:

• Airfares and departure taxes
• Travel insurance
• Visa, passport or vaccination costs
• Other meals not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, bar charges, tips, optional activities

Prices

Private tour	$AUD price per person
5 to 6 people	969
3 to 4 people	1249
2 people	1539
1 person	2679
Validity	31 December 2012

Prices are in Australian dollars based on land content & subject to currency fluctuations. Credit Card payments incur an additional surcharge. Prices beyond the validity are available on request. See Booking Conditions for more details.

 

Trip grade

MODERATE: If you are seeking fun and adventure and you like active travel, this is for you. A mixture of long and shorter activity days of four to five hours duration. A good level of fitness is required.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang trip notes

Hotels & guesthouses
In towns and cities you stay in standard hotels or guesthouses with private facilities. Hotels are centrally located to tourist attractions and restaurants.

Home stays

Remember that Laos is an underdeveloped country. Home stays in villages are very very rustic and are simple in terms of bedding and amenities. You sleep in a dormitory style room and are provided with a mattress, clean sheet and pillow. Amenities are shared with the village. There are no toilets! You go out door and in nature, ask your guide what are the protocols. There are no showers, you can use the village well or freshen up in nearby river. But always keep yourself covered – they are very shy people. Always check with your guide if you are unsure of what to do.

TIP:  Take moistened towelettes to clean your face and hand sanitizer to wash your hands. Remember what you bring in, you must carry out!

Elephant Village & Lodge
Situated on the Khan River, the Elephant Village was established in 2003 and aims to protect the Asian Elephant. Located on the opposite bank of the River is the Elephant Lodge which forms part of the Lao Spirit Resort, Laos’ first eco tourism accommodation. This 100 year old Lao farm house was relocated and beautifully restored to provide five apartment rooms. It is quite special to relax at sunset on your own private terrace with views to the mountains, the elephants and the river.

Food
All meals, indicated in the detailed itinerary, are included in the price. When you are trekking, you are offered what produce is in season, but there will always be plenty of ‘sticky rice’ – a staple food in Laos. Please advise us if you have any special dietary requirements.

The trekking day
A typical trekking day starts at around 8.30am. We aim to reach the next overnight stop between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. During the trek you will have plenty of breaks for rests, snacks and photographs. 

Kayaks
Kayaks are sturdy and can fit two people. You will be equipped with helmets, life jacket and paddles. The rivers in Laos vary from challenging rapids and fast flowing sections to calm sections of water. Your guide will brief you on what to expect and will ensure you raft sections that are suited to your level of ability. In the wet season (May to September) water can flow up to four times faster than normal.

Local guides
English speaking guides support your sightseeing and trekking activities. These guides are proud of their job and consider it an honour to show you their country. They have been fully trained in guiding outdoor tours around Laos. If you feel your guide provided you with great service, a tip at the end of the tour would be truly appreciated… a little bit goes a long way in Laos.

What to bring
We suggest using a sports bag or backpack for your overnight luggage – maximum weight of 15kg. This bag will be transported by support vehicle while you are trekking and exploring the highlands. You will carry your own daypack for daily activities. Please pack lightly – 10kg, as you will have to carry your own luggage for three days while trekking. We recommend using a sturdy daypack with good back support and a waterproof cover. Carry your important documents and personal items with you at all times – an all weather money belt is ideal. Please dress conservatively in the countryside and villages and when entering temple areas.

Your luggage should include: trekking boots or walking shoes, thongs or comfortable slip-on shoes for after walking all day, light weight, quick dry long pants + shorts, shirt + t-shirt, warm clothes for at night, bathers, sarong (for women to swim in), small towel, raincoat, hat, sunglasses, sun block, strong insect repellent (Deet medicated preferred), small medical kit, flashlight, essential toiletries, water bottle, camera, spare batteries, pen + paper, original passport, barley sugar/ lollies for sustenance, zip lock bags, toilet paper and personal medication and a light weight sleeping bag.

Note: A full list is provided with your trip dossier.

If you have room in your backpack, bring some books to give away as gifts. You can help local children improve their reading skills by buying picture books printed in their own language. For more information on this worthwhile project, visit Big Brother Mouse Project.

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reason, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor that may impact client safety.

Your group & share accommodation
Prices are based upon twin share accommodation. A single traveller pays the single supplement price for sole use of a room. If you are travelling in a group of three and are happy to share a triple room and a triple room is available, you will not be charged the single supplement price. For groups of five or seven people, the single traveller pays the single supplement price if a triple room is not available or you do not want to share.

Tipping guidelines
It is customary to express a personal thank you to your guide and driver at the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with excellent service. As a guideline only, we suggest tipping around AUD$4-$5 per day for the guide and AUD$2-$3 per day for the driver. You can pay this in local currency or US dollars. Of course whether you tip and how much is always at your discretion.

Laos visa

Most visitors can receive a 30 day single entry Tourist Visa on arrival at Luang Prabang or Vientiane airports or at the Friendship Bridge at the Thai Border Crossing and other border crossings (please check with your Lao Embassy). You need a valid passport for no less than six months, 2 x passport size current photographs & USD$30pp cash.

Laos Climate Laos has three distinct seasons. The cool dry season between November and February with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in mountain regions. During this season, the rivers are navigable and the roads are passable. This gives way to the hot dry season from March to June where temperatures can soar over 35 degrees Celsius. Some rivers are harder to navigate, and boat journeys in remote places may not be possible. In the north, the months from March through to the first rains in May or June can be very hazy as smoke from the burning of secondary forest hangs in the air. June to October is the wet season where temperatures are in the 30s. The country is at its most beautiful and lush and rivers are accessible, however it can be difficult to get around in remote places by road. Health issues Good medical advice usually recommends vaccinations in advance of travel to Laos. We suggest you consult with your doctor to discuss health care needs specific to your holiday. Insurance You must have comprehensive travel insurance to travel with us. Insurance should include cover for personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Your final trip dossier vouchers will not be confirmed until you confirm possession of appropriate insurance. Better be safe than sorry! Pre and post tour arrangements We can arrange additional hotel nights at the beginning or the end of your tour or if you are interested in doing additional touring we can organise a private tour to cater to your interests and time frame. Handy travel tips For assistance in planning your trip go to Laos Practical Info. What next To book this trip, contact us now and we will send you a booking form. To guarantee your booking you must send your passport details and your non-refundable deposit of 30% of total tour cost. The balance of payment is due 50 days prior to your departure. If you departure date is less than 50 days then full payment is required now. Once your booking is confirmed and you have paid in full you will receive a tour voucher and detailed itinerary.